http://www.gabbysbbq.com The decor is mostly wood and stone, with lots of cowboy pictures and memorabilia lining the walls. The smoky, extra-spicy sauce is what makes most of the mediocre barbecue bearable here. But the ribs are moist, juicy and tasty, making the All You Can Eat Ribfest ($15.99) on weekends the best deal going. More >>

http://www.houstongrooves.com Grooves is damn near legendary to the Houston hip-hop scene. This Third Ward bar near downtown is home to some of the best music around and a pretty diverse crowd of younguns and older folks alike. Sure, jazz bands shake things up during the early hours, but once that clock strikes 10 p.m., Grooves becomes a hip-hop Cinderella and throws on its party gown -- with the help of some very talented DJs, of course. More >>